Fostering in TV & Film

For many years, TV series and films have featured themes related to fostering and foster care. These TV shows and films have often shed light on foster care while touching on real-life incidents or being heavily dramatised for the big screen. Some families find that viewing television programs or motion pictures on foster care encourages conversation about the subject of fostering or helps them view things differently. It can be incredibly cathartic for some children and young people to watch a character that relates to them or goes through similar events, and this can be a good method to tackle tough topics related to their experiences. Representation matters, from fictitious characters on television to well-known people who were raised in foster homes. During this blog, we will discuss some of the films and tv shows involving fostering / foster care.

Shazam

Suitable for younger audiences, this superhero film based on the DC comic offers an entertaining and fun take on foster care. Billy Batson, the main character, is a 14-year-old foster kid who keeps running away from foster homes in an attempt to find his birth mother. Suddenly, he discovers he has superhuman abilities, becoming the superhero “Shazam.” However, he soon faces a formidable foe who has kidnapped his foster sibling and needs to be stopped.

Tracy Beaker

The main character of this classic British children’s television series is Tracy Beaker, a preteen known for her outspokenness, impulsivity, humour, and inventiveness. She lives in a children’s care facility called “The Dumping Ground” with other kids who are just like her. Yearning to be reunited with family, fostered or adopted, every episode covers a different subject while still including a lighthearted element that appeals to the younger audience.

Annie

There has been several different versions of this movie but the idea hasn’t changed despite a number of modifications throughout time. This highly dramatised story about a young girl called Annie, who maintains her strong and optimistic attitude in the face of inept social workers and avaricious foster parents, has been reimagined in a current setting where the orphanage is replaced with an unhappy foster family.

Are you interested in fostering? If you are and have a spare room in your home, click here and request a call from a member of our Beacon Fostering team.